Behind the Scenes at Phase One
Luminous Landscape editor Michael Reichmann recently went behind the scenes at the Phase One head office and factory in Copenhagen, Denmark.
“From a visual point of view the most interesting aspect of the visit was the manufacturing facility. The first thing that one is aware of (because otherwise they won’t let you in) is the strict attention to anti-static measures. Special smocks and ground straps for ones shoes are de-rigeur. Approximately a dozen people are involved in the final assembly of the camera backs. The actual boards are manufactured elsewhere under contract, based on Phase’s original designs. Once the completed boards and sensor chips are in house, assembly and testing of each back takes four people about 10 hours, spread out over roughly a 10 day period.”
This is meticulous hand assembly. No automated assembly line…simply skilled hands and eyes carefully putting each component into place, and testing and retesting each step of the way.